Synthetic vaccine and process for producing same

Abstract

There is provided a synthetic vaccine against influenza virus infections consisting of a synthetic peptide corresponding to a relevant antigenic fragment of the virus, which fragment is attached to a suitable carrier, such as a macromolecule. Effective vaccinations against a plurality of strains can be obtained when the antigenic fragment is one common to such strains. Such synthetic vaccines are produced by synthesizing peptides corresponding to such relevant antigenic fragments and coupling same to a suitable carrier, such as a macromolecule. There is also provided a process for the vaccination of mammals against influenza which comprises applying to said mammals an effective quantity of a vaccine according to the invention.

We claim: 
     
       1. A synthetic vaccine against a plurality of differing influenza virus infections comprising a suitable macromolecular carrier having attached thereto a synthetic peptide corresponding to an antigenic fragment of the hemagglutinin component of an influenza virus, which antigenic fragment is common to a plurality of differing influenza virus strains and capable of eliciting antibodies capable of neutralizing each of said intact differing influenza virus strain, said antigenic fragment being selected from the group of peptides consisting of: Pro-Ser-Thr-Asp-Glu-Glu-Gln-Thr-Ser-Leu-Tyr-Val; Phe-Phe-Ser-Arg-Leu-Asn-Trp-Leu-Tyr-Lys-Ser-Gly-Ser-Thr-Tyr-Pro-Val-Leu; Ser-Lys-Ala-Phe-Ser-Asn-Ala-Tyr-Pro-Tyr-Asp-Val-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Ala-Ser-Leu; and Ala-Ala-Lys-Arg-Gly-Pro-Asp-Ser-Gly-(phenylalanine)-(phenylalanine)-Ser-Arg-Leu-Asp-Tyr-Leu-Thr-Lys-Ser-Gly-Ser-Thr-Thr-Pro-Val-Leu. 
     
     
       2. A synthetic vaccine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said macromolecular carrier is multi-poly-DL-alanyl-poly-L-lysine (A--L), multi-poly-L-propyl-poly-L-lysine (Pro--L), or purified tetanus toxoid. 
     
     
       3. A synthetic vaccine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said macromolecular carrier is purified tetanus toxoid. 
     
     
       4. A synthetic vaccine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said synthetic peptide is attached to said macromolecular carrier via 1-ethyl-3-(3'-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDCI). 
     
     
       5. A synthetic vaccine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said synthetic peptide has the structure Ser-Lys-Ala-Phe-Ser-Asn-Ala-Tyr-Pro-Tyr-Asp-Val-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Ala-Ser-Leu. 
     
     
       6. A synthetic vaccine in accordance with claim 5, wherein said macromolecular carrier is multi-poly-DL-alanyl-poly-L-lysine (A--L), multi-poly-L-propyl-poly-L-lysine (Pro--L), or purified tetanus toxoid. 
     
     
       7. A synthetic vaccine in accordance with claim 2, wherein said synthetic peptide is attached to said macromolecular carrier via 1-ethyl-3-(3'-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDCI). 
     
     
       8. A synthetic vaccine in accordance with claim 1 in unit dosage form. 
     
     
       9. A process for the vaccination of mammals against each of a plurality of differing influenza virus strains, comprising, administering to said mammal an effective quantity of a vaccine in accordance with claim 1. 
     
     
       10. A process for the vaccination of mammals against each of a plurality of differing influenza virus strains, comprising, administering to said mammal an effective quantity of a vaccine in accordance with claim 2.   
     
     
       11. A process for the vaccination of mammals against each of a plurality of differing influenza virus strains, comprising, administrating to said mammal an effective quantity of a vaccine in accordance with claim 5.   
     
     
       12. A process for the vaccination of mammals against each of a plurality of differing influenza virus strains, comprising, administering to said mammal an effective quantity of a vaccine in accordance with claim 6.   
     
     
       13. A process for the vaccination of mammals against each of a plurality of differing influenza virus strains, comprising, administering to said mammal an effective quantity of a vaccine in accordance with claim 7.